KARACHI: Is it time for those who travel by auto-rickshaws to look for other better and cozier options? Not sure, because some habits die hard. The question becomes relevant in the context of the arrival of two international online transportation networks in the city. Suddenly, Karachi’s public transport system cuts a different picture.

It has to be said, though, that at present auto-rickshaws outnumber any other mode or form of public transport. They are readily available and are almost found in every nook and cranny of the city. They, like any vehicle people use, have their pros and cons. For example, if on one hand it is not difficult to hail down a rickshaw, on the other the passenger has to either haggle with the rickshaw operator for the fare to get to his destination or accept whatever he demands willy-nilly because there are no fare meters in rickshaws. There’s hardly any three-wheeler in Karachi which has a meter installed in it. Seeing one is nothing but a surprise which fizzles out the moment you know that the meter does not mean anything. It’s the ‘word-of-mouth’ which is the final word.

Talking to Dawn, Sultan, who earns a (part-time) living — as he does a day job somewhere else — by driving an auto-rickshaw, said: “We cannot afford to have meters. If I get a passenger from Cantt, and let’s say he needs to go to Keamari, I will charge him no less than Rs200, whereas if I had a meter, I would have taken between Rs50 and Rs60 from him. I’m not a wealthy man. Life is tough.”

It is indeed. Which begs the question, where does the government body that looks after the transport issues stand on it? Secretary of the Regional Transport Authority Manshad Shahani said: “There’s a verification system for checking the fitness of a rickshaw. When a new rickshaw is registered, it is sent for a fitness check. Once it goes through that process, a route permit is issued to it. It is part of the fitness process that meters are installed in the rickshaws. However, the ‘on-ground’ situation is different. Once the rickshaws hit the roads, meters are yanked out. We tried to be strict with them and had even written to the DIG-Traffic about it, but the problem is a larger one.

“Already there are very few public transport buses running on city roads. Add to it the CNG rates issue. One cannot increase the rates unless legislation is passed to that effect. So, all of these points should be factored in. We try to take action in accordance with the existing laws. I think once green and yellow (buses) lines are up and running, the public will have another option, because ultimately it’s the public which gets affected by all these things,” said Mr Shahani.

Giving his opinion on the online transportation networks that have recently emerged, Mr Shahani said competition had its advantages, and that the RTA supported the networks. He said the authority had even signed a memorandum of understanding with them.

Published in Dawn November 22nd, 2016